From Preá to Vila Arpoador: by land, by helicopter or on a kite downwinder

This guide covers the three ways to make the journey: by 4x4, by helicopter and on the kitesurfing downwinder that crosses two states and a delta.

By road, the journey covers around 350 km. From Preá to Camocim it is 97 km; from Camocim, the route continues along the BR-402, through Chaval and across the border between Ceará and Piauí to Parnaíba, a further 126 km; from Parnaíba to Tutóia it is another 121 km of tarmac, now in Maranhão. Tutóia is the last place to refuel.

From there, the tarmac ends: the final 13 km to Vila Arpoador follow the beach heading north-west, by 4x4 and within the tide window. If you are flying in, Jericoacoara airport (JJD), in Cruz, is around 14 km from Preá and shortens the air leg of the trip.

From July to January, the trade winds blow in from the east at 18 to 30 knots. Because the coastline runs from east to west, the wind is at your back all the way to Maranhão. It is one of the planet's great downwind corridors, and Vila Arpoador is where it ends.

You ride the route in stages, with land and sea support. From Preá, the first leg passes Guriú and Tatajuba on the way to Camocim. The second crosses Bitupitá and the state border to the Piauí coast, around Barra Grande and Pedra do Sal. The third is the main chapter: the crossing of the Parnaíba Delta, entering at Barra do Caju, riding across the Baía das Melancieiras between mangroves and sandbanks, exiting at Barra de Tutóia and completing the final 12 km to Vila Arpoador beach.

The coastal route covers around 210 km, usually split over three or four days of riding. We have guided this route since Vila Arpoador 's very first kite trips, with a 4x4 support vehicle on the sand, a support boat in the Delta and a guide on the water for every leg.

For the quickest option, a private helicopter charter follows the coastline, flying over Camocim, the Delta and the mouth of the Parnaíba, and landing in the village of Vila Arpoador. Our concierge arranges charters on request, based on your dates and the number of passengers.

Vila Arpoador is a base, not a stopover. In front of the village lie the Pequenos Lençóis and their lagoons; a boat ride away, the scarlet ibis flight over the Delta; and for those who keep riding, the downwinder to Atins adds another 45 km on the water with the Lençóis Maranhenses on the horizon. By land, Atins is 70 km away.

Arpoador Collection homes are in the village, with a dedicated concierge for accommodation, equipment, downwinder support and every transfer.

The window matches the wind season: July to January, peaking between August and December, when the trade winds blow clean and wind on most days. Warm water all year round means no wetsuit needed, and the late-afternoon light over the Delta is often the most beautiful moment of the crossing.

As for your quiver, our trips have taught us a simple rule of thumb: kites from 9 to 12 metres cover the entire route for most of the season. A UV rash vest, sun cream, a repair kit and a dry bag complete the list; the rest of your luggage travels in the 4x4 support vehicle. If you want to end the trip in style, time your arrival with the village calendar: over the turn of the year, Vila Arpoador hosts Réveillon Duna, its New Year's Eve festival, and homes are booked months in advance.